Londra Palace, Venice

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Two 19th-century hotels combined in 1900, this Grand Canal property is a block from St. Mark's Square, a central location that makes lunch on the terrace of Do Leoni "extremely busythe experience of dining there is overshadowed by tourists filing by." Hotel staff are "exceptional""all employees called us by name"while the rooms' Biedermeier-style furnishings and local textiles add "to the wonderful experience of being in Venice."

(53 rooms)

Also featured on the: Gold List for 2007, Gold List for 2008, Gold List for 2010, Gold List for 2011